Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah

😐 Solo nomad: Erbil is 32.4% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah without rent, and 39% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Erbil is 22.9% more expensive than Sulaymaniyah without rent, and 28.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69 IQD 10.1K
$5.31 IQD 6,938
44.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.10 IQD 30.2K
$27.22 IQD 35.6K
-15.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.79 IQD 11.5K
$7.03 IQD 9,191
25.04%
Cappuccino
$3.13 IQD 4,091
$2.66 IQD 3,485
17.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 IQD 675
$0.36 IQD 474
44.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 IQD 288
$0.18 IQD 230
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 IQD 2,547
$2.16 IQD 2,823
-9.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 IQD 2,695
$2.72 IQD 3,551
-24.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 IQD 1,745
$1.42 IQD 1,856
-6.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 IQD 1,100
$1.03 IQD 1,345
-18.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 IQD 2,348
$1.57 IQD 2,059
14.65%
Eggs
$1.97 IQD 2,580
$1.72 IQD 2,253
14.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.54 IQD 9,856
$5.89 IQD 7,699
28.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 IQD 6,212
$3.52 IQD 4,601
34.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 IQD 18.3K
$14.28 IQD 18.7K
-1.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 IQD 1,488
$1.22 IQD 1,591
-6.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 IQD 1,517
$1.31 IQD 1,710
-11.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 IQD 1,477
$1.31 IQD 1,718
-13.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 IQD 972
$0.75 IQD 984
-1.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 IQD 946
$0.65 IQD 854
10.77%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 IQD 921
$0.68 IQD 892
2.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 IQD 963
$0.59 IQD 767
25.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 IQD 730
$0.49 IQD 639
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 IQD 3,455
$1.94 IQD 2,541
36.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.45 IQD 16.3K
$11.51 IQD 15.0K
8.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 IQD 1,802
$1.51 IQD 1,973
-8.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 IQD 2,615
$1.74 IQD 2,280
14.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 IQD 777
$0.54 IQD 710
9.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.66 IQD 45.3K
$23.42 IQD 30.6K
47.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 IQD 2,981
$2.29 IQD 2,994
-0.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.29 IQD 3,000
$2.25 IQD 2,948
1.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.08 IQD 9,255
$5.51 IQD 7,212
28.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 IQD 912
$0.71 IQD 932
-1.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K IQD 25.5M
$20.7K IQD 27.1M
-5.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K IQD 26.9M
$21.1K IQD 27.6M
-2.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 IQD 132.1K
$76.2 IQD 99.6K
32.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.55 IQD 22.9K
$16.71 IQD 21.9K
5.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42 IQD 38.5K
$26.61 IQD 34.8K
10.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.4 IQD 96.0K
$39.94 IQD 52.2K
83.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.74 IQD 15.4K
$16.92 IQD 22.1K
-30.61%
Cinema Ticket
$11.69 IQD 15.3K
$7.73 IQD 10.1K
51.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 IQD 347.3K
$153 IQD 200.5K
73.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,301 IQD 4.3M
$3,442 IQD 4.5M
-4.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.12 IQD 43.3K
$24.10 IQD 31.5K
37.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.75 IQD 65.1K
$24.81 IQD 32.4K
100.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.1 IQD 108.7K
$44.23 IQD 57.8K
87.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.8 IQD 100.5K
$36.75 IQD 48.1K
109.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 IQD 574.4K
$239 IQD 312.4K
83.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 IQD 360.6K
$177 IQD 231.4K
55.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 IQD 965.7K
$582 IQD 761.5K
26.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 IQD 631.7K
$340 IQD 445.0K
41.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,112 IQD 1.5M
$811 IQD 1.1M
37.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$664 IQD 867.9K
$565 IQD 738.8K
17.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erbil
Sulaymaniyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$555 IQD 725.3K
$572 IQD 748.1K
-3.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.33
9
59.22%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Erbil: March 3, 2026

Last update for Sulaymaniyah: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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